campbell



(No Model.)

7 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. R. CAMPBELL.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

No. 550,742. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

w am mm @527 (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

r W. R. CAMPBELL.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE;

No. 550,742. Patented-Dec. s, 1895.

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ANDREW BJERAHAM. PHDTO-UYNQWASMNGTDN. D C

' W. 11.. CAMPBELL.

4 Sheets Sheet 3.

{No Model.)-

I R T RY GAS ENGINE.

Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

d e a Z d NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESLEY R. CAMPBELL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO. GEORGE J. RICHARDSON AND ED'WARD A. NOPPEL, OF SAME PLACE.

ROTARY GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,742, dated December 8, 1895.

Application filed April 2, 1895. Serial No. 544,144. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: insure the best leverage and force to be ob- Be it known that I, WVESLEY R. CAMPBELL, tained fromthe impact of the exploded gases, a citizen of the United States, and a resident the latter in practice being directed through of the city of Philadelphia and State of Penna series of passages, each arranged on a line 55 sylvania, have invented a certain new and parallel, ornearlyso,to thew-all ofthatpocket useful Improvement in Rotary Gas-Engines, of the piston which it is designed to operate of which the following is a full, clear, and exupon. act description, reference being had to the Within the main casing, at points diametaccompanying drawings, forming part of this rically opposite each other, are two castingsE 6o specification. E, each casting having circular extensions in My invention relates to certain improvethe form of trunnions e, which fit into correments in gas-engines of that class operated spondingly-shaped orifices formed by circular by the explosion of the gas, and has as its flanges ein side plates F, which latter are se chief characteristics an evenly-balanced rocured by bolts f to the main portion of the 65 I 5 tary piston having oppositely-disposed indecasing, the bolts f passing through horizonpendent-valved gas-explosion chests for holdtally-arranged slots f in said casing, so as to ing the gas under compression and to receive permit of the movement of the side frames and direct the force of the exploded gases, as toward and from the central shaft D when it hereinafter described. becomes necessary to adjust the positions of 70 The accompanying drawings illustrate a the castings E E. The adjustment of these construction embodying my invention in its castings is effected by set-screws E extendpreferred form. ing through the sides of the main frame and In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, bearing upon bosses 6 formed on the rear partly in section, on the line 1 1, Fig. 2, of a face of the casting at points above and be- 75 gas-engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 low the supporting-trunnions 'e. The face 6 is a plan view of the same, a portion of the of the casting E is curved on a line correcasing being broken away to illustrate the arsponding to the periphery of the piston D rangement of the explosion-chest. Fig. 3 is and fits snugly against the periphery of the a partial sectional elevation. Fig. 4 is a secpiston in such manner as to prevent the es- 8o tional elevation, on a somewhat larger scale, cape of gases, but does not bear with sufficient of a portion of the engine illustrated in Fig. force to retard the rotative movement of said 1. Fig. .5 is a sectional elevation showing the piston.

exploding-chamber and connections in detail. Extending transversely through the cast- Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation on ing E and partly through a block E secured 8 5 3 5 the line 6 6, Fig. 3. thereto is the exploding-chest G, communi- The engine is of the rotary type and has a eating at one end with a valve-chamber g in rotating piston provided on its periphery with the block E. In this valve-chamber is a onea series of inclined pockets or buckets, into way valve 9, held to its seat by a spring which the exploded gases are forced to cause and opening only in one direction to permit 0 4 the rotation of the piston. the flow of gas and air under pressure from Referring to the drawings, A A represent a pipe 72 through the valve-chamber and into the main casing, preferably made in two secthe exploding-chest, the pressure of the spring tions secured together by bolts 0 and bolted being adjusted, as desired, bya nut g on the to abase-plate B, which rests upon any suitend of the valve-stem 9 At the rear end of 5 4 5 able foundation. At the center of the casing the explodingchest is formed a valve-seat 1',

are bearings for the reception of a rotating against which fits a piston-valve I, held to its shaft D, to which is secured the piston D, seat by a spring '6, the rear end of which rests whichlatterrotates within the casing. In the in a pocket-piece I, adjustably secured by periphery of the piston are formed a large bolts 1? to the casting, so that by adjusting I00 number of pockets (1, arranged at such an anthe bolts the tension of the spring may be adgle' to the circumference of the piston as will justed to permit the opening of the pistonvalve under the exercise of any predetermined pressure in the exploding-chest.

From the exploding-chest G lead two passages forming a distributing-chamber K, the mouths of which are normally closed by the piston-valve I, so that no gas can enter the distributing-chamber until after the explo- 1 sion of the gas in the chest G has occurred and the force of the explosion has forced back the piston-valve I to open communication to the distrib uting-chamber. From this distributing-chamber leads a series of passages is, arranged tangentially, or nearlyso, to the periphery of the rotary piston, the angle of each passage, however, being different from that of each of the other passages in order that the direction of flow given to the exploded g-as escaping through the passage may be on a line practically parallel to the wall of the pocket of the piston against which the gas impinges. In order to decrease the area of the distributing-chamber and to provide for the adjustment of the area of the chambeigand, further, to avoid some diffi-culties which might be experienced in the casting of the pieces E, the distributing-chambers are formed open from end to end and the openings are tapped for the reception of threaded rods or bolts 1, to which are connected sliding filling-pieces -l, partially cut away at their inner ends, so as to but partly fill the distributing-chamber, while at the same time by turning the belts or rods Z the area of the chamber may be increased or diminished, if desired.

To one side of the distributing-ch amber and partly surrounding the exploding-chest the casting is provided with a water-chamber E for the purpose of preventing excessive heating of the parts.

At the lower portion of the frame is a casing M, from which leads a passage on to the outer air, the mouth of the passage m being closed by a vertically-lifting valve N. At the center of the mouth of this passage m is the gas-supply pipe 0,the mouth of which is also closed by the central portion of the valve N, the two being so arranged with respect to each other that on the lifting of the valve both passages will be opened for the entrance of air and gas to the engine. The chamber or passage m, which I term a mixing-pot, communicates with a passage m, leading directly into a cylinder P.

In the cylinder P is a piston 9, connected by a rod 19 with a crank 19 on a stub-shaft P, secured to the main casing, the crank being secured to or forming part of a pinion Q, also mounted on said shaft. On one end of the main shaft D is a gear-wheel Q, intermeshing with and driving the pinion Q, the relative diameters of the pinion and gearwheel being such that the pinion is rotated three times during one revolution of the gearwheel, or, in other words, the piston 19 is oper-ated three times during each revolution of the piston D.

In the lower portion of the cylinderP is an outlet R, in which is-aone-way vaiver, opening only to permit the escape of gas and air from the cylinder and normally held in a closed position bya coiled compression-spring 'r. The passage R communicates with a horizontal passage R, from the opposite ends of which lead the pipes h to the two explodingehests, so that as the piston 12 descends it forces a quantity ofmixed air and gas to both of the exploding-chambers.

The mixed air and gas are exploded in the chests G, preferably by an electric spark, two

gterminalswr being placed in each chamber,

the terminals being each connected to one pole of a battery X. From the opposite pole of the battery extends a wire Y to a point in close proximity' tothe gear-wheel Q, on which wheel are three contact-blocks Y, which successively come into contact with a contact block or brushat theendofthe wire Y. From the terminals in the exploding-chambers iinewires are run to the shaft D or the gearwheel Q, so that the circuit is completed through the wheel each time one of the contactblocks Y makes connection with the wire Y and a spark is produced between the terminals a re and the gas-simultaneously exploded in each chamber. On one end of the shaft D are secured a belt-wheel Sand a balance-wheel S, preferably formed integral.

In order to govern and control'the speed of the engine, I mount loosely on the shaft D a collar T, from which extend two rods t, passing through the hub of the belt-wheel S and terminating in eyes i. In the interior of the belt-wheelare lugs it, placed diametrically opposite each other and servingas pivot-points for weighted arms U, each having a projecting finger u, engaging in the eyes if of the rods t. As the speedof the engineincreases, these weighted arms U will, of course, be forced away from each other by centrifugal force, and the fingers to, acting on the rodsz, will move the loose collar T toward the beltwheel.

On the under side of the casing M is a lug of, to which is pivoted a lever U connected at or near its opposite ends to valve-stems o 0, carrying, respectively, 'valvesV V. The valve V is adapted to a valve-seat in a passage 022, leading from the horizontal passage m to the cylinder P and opening only in one direction,the valve being normallyheld closed by a coiled compression-spring t surround ing its valve-stem o.

The valve V is adapted to a valve-seat in a passage 1;, leading directly from the outer air to the end of the horizontal passage m, this valveopening downwardly and being held to its seat by the spring 02 on the valve-stem o through the medium of the connecting-lever U One end of the lever U rests upon a sliding wedge 10, sliding 011 the base-plate and connected at its rear end by a rod 10 to a lever W, the latter being pivoted to a lug w on the frame and terminating in two forks w, which embrace the collar T, being held in contact with the collar by a coiled compression-spring w, guided by a rod 0 which? 7 ment is transmitted through the lever W and rod w to the Wedge w, moving the latter out Ward and raising the end of the lever U This movement of the leverU opens the valves V Vto an extent dependent upon the movement of the Wedge and permits the escape of air and gasfrom the'cylinder P to the outer air and the consequent delivery of but a small quantity of gas to the exploding-chests, reducing the force of the explosion and materially reducing the speed of the engine. In this manner the speed of the engine may be governed and a constant regular speed of ro-l tation be insured.

In order to keep the periphery of the piston clean and lubricated, I place at the bottom of the casing a Wick or Wiper Z, so disposed in: pockets .2 as to at all times keep in contact With the periphery of the piston, the supply of oil to keep thewick moist being added through the oil-cups z.

In operation each revolution of the piston and the consequent revolution of the gear-T Wheel Q causes the pinion Q to revolve three times, and the piston p is therefore operated three times-and six explosions of gas occur during each revolution of the engine. As the piston ascends, itcreates a partial vacuum in the lowerportion of the cylinder and in the passage m, and the air and gas, entering the passages m and 0, respectively, lift valve N and flow into passages m, and then, raising valve V, flow into the cylinder. The piston then descends and forces the mingled gas and air in the cylinder out through the pipes h to the exploding-chests G. When the pis ton is completely down and just ready for its return movement, the valve 9 being closed, one of the contact-blocks Y completes the electric circuit and simultaneously explodes the gas in both of the chests G. The force of the explosion drives back the piston-valves I against the action of the springs z" and opens communication between the exploding-chest and the distributing-chamber, When the exploded gas under extremely high pressure enters and is directed by the passages 7t against the buckets cl of the piston. The explosions and the impact of the exploded gases in the piston occurring, as they do, simultaneously in opposite directions on opposite sides of the piston counterbalance each other in such manner that any strain on the shaft is avoided, although, of course, the engine could be safely operated With an exploding-chamber at but one side of the piston. The gases pass in the buckets (Z of the piston and are held until the end of the face 6 is passed, when they escape freely throughthe exhaust-ports A c As three explosions occur in each of the ex ploding-chambers during each revolution of the piston, the piston is subjected to the action of six different impacts of the exploded gases and may be driven at an extremely high speed.

It will be understood that various modifications in the structure of the engine herein described may be made Without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. In a gas engine, the combination of a rotary piston having peripheral pockets, an exploding chest for the gases, and a valve normally closing said exploding chest, said valve being so arranged and disposed as to be opened by the force of the explosion to permit the exploded gases to escape from said chamber and act upon the peripheral pockets of the piston. 2. In a gas engine, the combination of a rotary piston havinga series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest for the gases, passages leading from said exploding chest to a point opposite the piston pockets, and a valve normally closing communication between the exploding chest and the said passages.

3. Ina rotary gas engine, the combination of a rotary piston having peripheral pockets, an exploding chest for the gases, a distributing chamber communicating With the exploding chamber, means for increasing or decreasing the area of said distributing chamber, and a series of inclined passages leading from the distributing chamber to points in line With the pockets of the rotary piston, substantially as specified.

4. In a gas engine, the combination of the rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest, a distributing chamber, a valve normally closing communication between the exploding chest and the distributing chamber, and a series of pockets leading from the distributing chamber to points opposite the piston pockets.

5. The combination in a gas engine, of the rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest, a series of passages leading from the exploding chest to points opposite the pockets in the piston, and a valve located in said exploding chest and normally closing communication between the exploding chest and the gas passages, substantially as specified.

6. In a gas engine, the combination of a rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest for the gases, a spring actuated valve normally closing the escape from the saidexploding chest, and a series of escape passages leading from the exploding chamber to points opposite the piston pockets, said passages being arranged tangen tially, or nearly so, to the periphery of said piston, substantially as specified.

7. In a gas engine, the combination of a rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, exploding chests for the gases provided at diametrically opposite points on the periphery of said piston, passages leading from each of said exploding chests to points opposite the piston pockets, and a valve provided in each of said exploding chests normally closing communication between the exploding chest and the said passages.

8. In a gas engine, the combination of a 1'0- tary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, exploding chests for the gases arranged at diametrically opposite points on the periphery of the piston, passages leading from each of the exploding chests to points opposite the piston pockets, a pump cylinder in which the air and gases are received, a piston therein, means for reciprocating the piston, two escape pipes leading from the pump cylinder and extending one to each of the exploding chests for simultaneously supplying the two exploding chests and means for causing the simultaneous explosion of the gas in said chests.

9. In a gas engine, the combination of the rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, exploding chests provided at diametrically opposite points on the periphery of said piston, valves in said exploding chests, distributing chambers in communication with said exploding chests, but normally closed by the valves, a series of inclined passages leading from the distributing chambers to points opposite the piston pockets, and means for causing the simultaneous explosion of the gas in said chests, substantially as specified.

10. In a gas engine, the combination of a rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, a movable casing, an exploding chest for the gases in said casing, passages leading from the exploding chest to points opposite the piston pockets, and means for adjusting said casing toward and from the periphery of the piston, substantially as specified.

11. In a gas engine, the combination of a rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, a movable casing, having a curved face in contact with the periphery of the piston, trunnions or supports projecting from the sides of the said casing, side supporting frames to which said trunnions are adapted, adjusting screws bearing upon the rear face of said casing for moving the same toward and from the periphery of the piston, an exploding chest provided in said casing, and passages leading from said exploding chest to points opposite the pockets of the piston, substantially as specified.

12. In a gas engine, the combination of a rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest, a distributing chamber communicating with the exploding chest, a piston valve normally closing communication between the chest and the chamber, a spring tending to close said valve and a series of inclined passages leading from the distributing chamber to points opposite the pockets of the rotary piston, substantially as specified.

13. In a gas engine, the combination of the rotary piston, I), a series of pockets, (1, formed in the periphery of said piston, a movable casing, E, having a curved face, 6 in.

contact with the periphery of the piston, trunnions or supports, 6, projecting laterally from said casing, supporting plates, F, carrying said trunnions, securing bolts, f, adjustably securing the side plates to the main frame of the engine, adjusting screws E bearing on the rear face of said casing, an exploding chamber, G, formed in said casing, a piston valve, I, closing the end of said exploding chamber, a spring, i, tending to hold said valve to its seat, a distributing chamber, K, a series of inclined passages, Zr, leading from said chamber to points opposite the pockets, (1, of the piston, a gas supply pipe, h, and means for igniting the gas in the exploding chamber, substantially as specified.

14. In a gas engine, the combination of the casing, a rotary piston, D, mounted in said casing, a series of pockets, cl, formed in the periphery of said piston, a movable casing, E, having one face in contact with the periphery of the piston, supporting and adjusting devices for said casing, an exploding chamber, G, formed in said casing, a piston valve, I, closing the end of said exploding chamber, a spring, a", tending to hold said valve to its seat, a distributing chamber, K, adjustable filling pieces, Z, provided in said distributing chamber, adjusting bolts, Z, for said filling pieces, a series of inclined passages, 70, leading from said chamber to points opposite the pockets, (1, of the piston, a gas supply pipe, h, and means for igniting the gas in the exploding chamber, substantially as specified.

15. In a gas engine, the combination of the rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest, passages leading therefrom to points opposite the piston pockets, entrance ports, on, and 0, for the air and gas respectively, a valve, N, adapted to close both ports, a passage, m, with which said ports communicate, a pump cylinder, P, also communicating with said passage, m, a valve, V, in said passage, m, a piston, means for operating the same, an escape pipe leading from the pump cylinder to the exploding chest, and a one way valve controlling the flow of air and gas from the pump cylinder to the exploding chest, substantially as specified.

16. In a gas engine the combination of the rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest, passages leading therefrom to points opposite the piston pockets, a pump cylinder, P, having an open upper end, a piston, 19, in said pump cylinder,

a crank connected to said piston, gearing for revolving said crank, an entrance port, m, for the air, an entrance 0, for the gas, a valve N, closing the mouths of both ports, a passage, m, leading from said ports to the pump cylinder, a one way valve, V, in said passage, m, a passage, R, leading from the pump cyl- IIO inder, a one way valve, 1", in said passage, R, a valve chamber, communicating with the exploding chamber, G, a one Way valve, g, located in said valve chamber, g, and a pipe, h, extending from the passage, R, to the valve chamber, g, substantially as specified.

17. I11 a gas engine, the combination of the rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest, passages leading therefrom to points opposite the piston pockets, entrance ports for air and gas, a valve controlling the same, a pump cylinder, a pas sage leading therefrom to the entrance ports for air and gas, a piston, means for reciprocatin g the same, an escape pipe leading from the pump cylinder to the exploding chest, a one Way valve controlling the fiow of air and gas from the pump cylinder to the exploding chest, a supplemental escape passage leading from the pump cylinder, a valve in said supplemental escape passage,a governing device, and mechanism operatively connecting the governing device to the valve in said supplemental escape passage, substantially as specified.

18. The combination in a gas engine of the exploding chest, a forcing pump, an air and gas passage leading therefrom to the explod ing chest, an auxiliary escape passage leading from the air and gas passage to the outer air, a valve in said escape passage, a governing device operated by the engine, said governing device being operatively connected to said valve.

19. The combination in a gas engine of the piston, the exploding chest, a pump cylinder, a piston therein, means for reciprocating the piston, entrance ports for the air and gas, a valve controlling the flow of the same, a passage extending from the air and gas ports to the pump cylinder, a valve, as V therein, an escape passage leading from the pump cylinder to the exploding chest, a supplemental passage leading from the air and gas passage to the outer air, avalve as V, in said supple-- mental passage, a centrally pivoted lever, U connected at one end to the stem of the valve, V, and having its opposite end in working contact with the stem of the valve, V, a governing device operated by the engine, and mechanism connecting said governing device to the lever, U substantially as specified.

20. A governing device for gas engines comprising in combination two weighted levers or arms U, pivotally mounted at points diametrically opposite the center of rotation of the shaft of the engine, a loose collar, T, on said shaft, rods, 25, connected to said sleeve, loops, t, formed at the ends of the rods, t, fingers, U, extending from the arms, U, into said loops, 25, a pivoted lever, W, having a bifurcated end portion embracing the collar, T, a wedge 'w, a connecting rod, 20, extending from the wedge to the lever, W, a pivoted lever, U resting upon said wedge, escape ports for air and gas and valves in said escape ports operatively connected to the lever, U substantially as specified.

21. In a rotary engine, the combination of the rotary piston having a series of peripheral pockets, an exploding chest, passages leading therefrom to points opposite the pockets of the piston, a wiper or wick, Z, holding pockets, 2, for holding said wiper in contact with the periphery of the piston, and oil cups, z, supplying the lubricant to said wiper, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, A. D. 1895.

WESLEY R. CAMPBELL.

\Vitnesses:

WINFIELD S. SHEARD, JNo. E. PARKER. 

